www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I have taken a number of pics recently that I thought were brown argus. But having spent some time looking through the "Collins" butterfly book I'm not so sure they are not common blues. Could somebody explain the differences? I,ve posted a couple of examples of the pictures I'm referring to.




Cheers
Dave

I believe both are Brown Argus ... the lower picture certainly is but on my screen, there maybe a barest trace of blue scales on the upper wings in the top picture.

If blue is present, then that could be a Common Blue. The females are extremely variable in both size and colouring.

Many thanks
Dave

Where are these taken? I've just been looking at the agestis/artaxerxes question from the June competition and I have to say that both of these have the flavour of artaxerxes to me... If they were taken in central or southern England I might have to revise my opinions a bit (I live in Switzerland so am used to different subspecies).

They are definitely Aricia, though (i.e., brown argus species, not common blue).

Guy

Looking again, I have already revised that thought. The wing shape of the female is wrong for northern brown argus, despite the hint of white.

Guy

Dave Mac wrote:I have taken a number of pics recently that I thought were brown argus. But having spent some time looking through the "Collins" butterfly book I'm not so sure they are not common blues. Could somebody explain the differences?

See

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species. ... wn%20Argus

and look at the similar species section.

Cheers,

- Pete

So am I right in saying that if there is no cell spot it has to be Brown Argus?

Martin.

Yes - or Northern Brown Argus.

Cheers,

- Pete